He was interested in Folk Music from a very early age. He grew up listening to Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly, particularly the Weavers. At the age of 15, his father passed away. McLean graduated from Iona Preparatory School in 1963 fulfilling his father’s request. Donald shortly attended Villanova University but had to drop out after 4 months.
McLean became associated with famous folk music agent Harold Leventhal. He was teamed up with personal manager Herb Gart for 18 years. For 6 year Donald performed at venues and events held at The Bitter End and Gaslight Café in New York, Newport Folk Festival, Cellar Door in Washington D.C and Troubadour in Los Angeles.
He then attended night school at Iona College, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1968. Mclean turned down the opportunity for Columbia University Graduate School to follow his dream as a singer and songwriter. He started performing at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, New York and The Main Point in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. In process of being a star got the nickname “Don” McLean.
Donald “Don” McLean was married to Patrisha Shnier from 1987 until the two got divorced in June 2016. The two became pa att. Donald was charged with Domestic Violence on July 21st, 2016. Don has a net worth of $3.5 million at present.